Hispanic Democrats close ranks around Rep. Rob Menendez

Hispanic Democrats are throwing their weight behind Rep. Rob Menendez (D-N.J.), the first-term lawmaker who occupies the House seat once held by his father, Sen. Bob Menendez (D-N.J.), who is under indictment for corruption.

The younger Menendez, a former commissioner of the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, was elected to the House in 2022 after the retirement of former Rep. Albio Sires (D), as part of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus’s (CHC) largest first-term class ever.

Menendez now faces a serious primary challenge from Hoboken Mayor Ravi Bhalla amid fallout over his father’s legal woes.

Yet CHC members see Menendez as a valuable colleague with subject-matter expertise, and as the new political standard-bearer for New Jersey’s 2 million Latinos.

“As the only Latino currently representing New Jersey in the U.S. House of Representatives, Congressman Rob Menendez has fought tirelessly for the Latino community. He is a proven leader on the issues that matter most to our community, like making life more affordable, lowering prescription drug prices and ensuring that health care remains affordable and accessible, protecting reproductive freedom and much more,” said Rep. Linda Sánchez (D-Calif.), who chairs Bold PAC, the CHC’s campaign arm.

CHC members are eager to keep the group’s numbers up and growing — in 2022, Menendez joined the CHC along with eight other freshmen members from districts in nine different states.

Two House CHC members, Democratic Reps. Grace Napolitano (Calif.) and Tony Cárdenas (Calif.), are retiring from Congress at the end of this term; a third, Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.), a former Bold PAC chair, is leaving his seat to run for Senate.

The CHC’s Senate — and New Jersey — footprint will be taking a hit from the likely retirement of the senior Menendez.

Sen. Menendez is not currently running for reelection in the Democratic primary but has said he will consider running as a Democratic independent in the general election if he’s able to shake off his federal indictments by the summer.

The scandal over those indictments threw New Jersey politics off kilter, creating a power vacuum in the space occupied by a man who’s been in elected office since 1986 and is arguably the state’s most prominent Democratic politician.

For the younger Menendez, his father’s scandals attracted stiff opposition in the form of Bhalla and businessman Kyle Jasey, who launched his political career in a long-shot Senate bid against the elder Menendez.

Bhalla has gained traction in his campaign, posting strong fundraising numbers, ending 2023 with about $900,000 cash on hand, compared to Menendez’s $700,000.

Federal Election Commission reports posted late Monday show Menendez took the fundraising lead in the first quarter of 2024, ending March with nearly $1.2 million cash on hand to Bhalla’s $900,000.

Polls are notoriously erratic for House races, but at least one super PAC-commissioned poll reported by the New Jersey Globe showed Bhalla leading earlier this month. Another poll from February showed Menendez with a double-digit lead.

Menendez’s CHC colleagues are keen to keep him onboard, particularly because he’s built a reputation as a straight-talker who can deliver a punch across the aisle.

“Rob is uniquely positioned to defend working families against Extreme MAGA Republicans’ constant attacks on health care, immigration, and our basic rights. He is a strong voice and staunch advocate for the people of New Jersey and that’s why I’m proud to support him in his reelection,” said Rep. Pete Aguilar (Calif.), who as Democratic Caucus chair is currently the highest-ranking Latino in the House.

Menendez has also shown a knack for inserting himself in key issues for the CHC.

“Rob is a co-chair of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus Immigration Task Force and I’ve been proud to fight side by side with Rob on one of the most critical issues facing our community,” said CHC Chair Nanette Díaz Barragán (D-Calif.).

“As a member of the House Pro-Choice Caucus, he cosponsored the Women’s Health Protection Act, which would enshrine the principles of Roe v. Wade into law and protect the rights of women all over the country. He will be a leader who is not afraid to stand up to Republicans and who will advocate for a high quality of life for all.”

And Menendez has been able to parlay his previous experience in transportation policy into collegial goodwill.

“Rob has advocated to improve transportation and infrastructure across New Jersey’s 8th District, including through the Gateway Program — the nation’s largest critical infrastructure project, which recently received $6.9 billion from the U.S. Department of Transportation, because he knows how much working families rely on quality transportation,” said Rep. Ritchie Torres (D-N.Y.).

–Updated at 11:05 a.m. EDT.